CIHM 
Microfiche 
Seres 
(l\/lonographs) 


ICMH 

Collection  de 
microfiches 
(monographles) 


m 


Canadian  Inatituta  for  Historical  Microiaproductiona  /  Institut  Canadian  da  microreproductions  historiquas 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes  /  No..  ->  technique  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best  originai 
copy  avaiiable  for  fiiming.  Features  of  this  copy  which 
may  be  bibliographically  unique,  which  may  alter  any  of 
the  images  in  the  reproduction,  or  which  may 
significantly  change  the  usual  method  of  filming  are 
checked  below. 


D 


D 

D 


D 


Coloured  covers  / 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I     I  Covers  damagod  / 

' — '  Couverture  endommagee 

I     I  Covers  restored  and/or  laminated  / 

' — '  Couverture  restauree  et/ou  pelliculee 

I     I  Cover  title  missing  /  Le  litre  de  couverture  manque 

I     I  Coloured  maps  /  Cartes  geographiques  en  couleur 

I     I  Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  blacit)  / 

' — '  Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

I     I  Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations  / 

' — '  Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

I     I  Bound  with  other  material  / 

' — '  Relie  avec  d'autres  documents 


Only  edition  available  / 
Seule  edition  disponible 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin  /  La  reliure  serree  peut 
causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la  distorsion  le  long  de 
la  marge  interieure. 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restorations  may  appear 
within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these  have 
been  omitted  from  filming  /  II  se  peut  que  certaines 
pages  blanches  ajout^s  lors  d'une  restauration 
apparaissent  dans  le  texte,  metis,  torsque  cela  dtait 
possible,  ces  pages  n'ont  pas  ^  film^es. 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  examplaire  qu'il  lui  a 
ete  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details  de  cet  exem- 
plaire  qui  sent  peut-6tre  uniques  du  point  de  vue  bibli- 
ographique,  qui  peuvent  nriodifier  une  image  reproduite, 
ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une  modifications  dans  la  m6th- 
ode  normale  de  filmage  sont  rndiqu^s  ci-dessous. 

I     j      Coloured  pages  /  Pages  de  couleur 

I     !      Pages  damaged  /  Pages  endommagees 

I     I      Pages  restored  and/or  laminated  / 
' — '      Pages  restaurees  et/ou  pelliculdes 

r^     Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed  / 
' — '      Pages  decolor^es,  tachetees  ou  piquees 

I     I      Pages  detached  /  Pages  detachees 

I   A     Showthrough  /  Transparence 

j     I      Quality  of  print  varies  / 

' — '      Quality  inegale  de  I'impression 

I     I      Includes  supplementary  material  / 
' — '      Comprend  du  materiel  supplementaire 

I  I  Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
' — '  slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image  /  Les  pages 
totalement  ou  partiellement  obscurcies  par  un 
feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure,  etc.,  ont  et6  filmees 
a  nouveau  de  fagon  a  obtenir  la  mellleure 
image  possible. 

I  I  Opposing  pages  with  varying  colouration  or 
' — '  discolourations  are  filmed  twice  to  ensure  the 
best  possible  image  /  Les  pages  s'opposant 
ayant  des  colorations  variatiles  ou  des  decol- 
orations sont  filmees  deux  fois  afin  d'obtenir  la 
meilleur  image  possible. 


n 


Additkinal  comments  / 
Commentaires  supplementaires: 


This  ittm  is  f  ilm«d  »t  tht  rtduction  ratio  chtcktd  btlow/ 

Ce  flociifnent  est  tUmi  au  taux  de  redaction  indiqui  ci-dessous. 


lOX 

14X 

1«X 

22X 

XX 

XX 

J 

12X 


Tha  copy  fllmad  hara  has  baan  raproducad  thanka 
to  tha  ganaroiity  of: 

Hamilton  Public  Library 


L'axamplaira  film*  fut  raproduit  grlca  i  la 
gtntrotitl  da: 

Hamilton  Public  Library 


Tha  imaga*  appaaring  hara  ara  tha  baat  quality 
poaalbia  eonsldaring  tha  condition  and  lagibillty 
of  tha  original  copy  and  In  kaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  spaclflcatlona. 


Original  coplas  in  printad  papar  covar*  ara  fllmad 
baglnning  with  tha  front  covar  and  anding  on 
tha  last  paga  with  a  printad  or  llluatratad  Impraa- 
tion.  or  tha  bacli  covar  whan  approprlata.  All 
othar  original  eopiaa  ara  fllmad  baglnning  on  tha 
first  paga  with  a  printad  or  llluatratad  Impraa- 
sion,  and  anding  on  tha  last  paga  with  a  printad 
or  llluatratad  Impraaalon. 


Tha  laat  racordad  frama  on  aach  microflcha 
shall  contain  tha  symbol  — » (moaning  "COIV- 
TINUED"),  or  tha  symbol  V  (moaning  "END"), 
whichavar  applias. 

Mapa.  platas.  charts,  ate.  may  ba  fllmad  at 
diffarant  raduction  ratios.  Thosa  too  larga  to  ba 
antiraly  includad  in  ona  axposura  ara  fllmad 
baglnning  in  tha  uppar  laft  hand  cornar.  laft  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frsmas  as 
raquirad.  Tha  following  diagrams  lllustrsta  tha 
mathod: 


Las  imagas  suivsntas  ont  ttt  raproduitas  avac  la 
plus  grand  soln.  compta  tanu  da  la  condition  at 
da  la  nattat*  da  l'axamplaira  film*,  at  an 
conformita  avac  iaa  eondltiona  du  contrat  da 
filmaga. 

Laa  axamplairas  originaux  dont  la  couvartura  an 
paplar  ast  lmprim*a  sont  fllm*s  an  eomman«ant 
par  ia  pramiar  plat  at  an  tarmlnant  aoit  par  la 
darnitra  paga  qui  eomporto  una  ampralnta 
d'imprasslon  ou  d'lllustrxtion.  salt  par  la  sacond 
plat,  saion  la  eas.  Tous  las  autras  axamplairas 
originaux  sont  filmto  an  commandant  par  la 
pramitra  paga  qui  eomporto  una  ampralnta 
d'impraaaion  ou  d'lllustratlon  at  an  tarmlnant  par 
la  darnltra  paga  qui  eomporto  una  taiia 
ampralnta. 

Un  das  symboias  suivants  apparaltra  sur  la 
darnitra  Imaga  da  chaqua  microflcha.  salon  la 
cas:  la  symbols  ■^  signifia  "A  SUiVRE".  la 
symbola  ▼  signifia  "FIN". 

Las  cartas,  planchas,  tablaaux.  ate.  pauvant  itra 
fllmte  i  das  Uux  da  reduction  difftrants. 
Lorsqua  la  documant  ast  trop  grand  pour  itra 
raproduit  an  un  saui  elicha.  il  ast  filma  t  partir 
da  I'angla  supMaur  gaucha.  da  gaucha  t  droits. 
at  da  haut  an  baa,  an  pranant  la  nombra 
d'Imagas  nteassairs.  Las  diagrammas  suivants 
lllustrant  la  mMhoda. 


1  2  3 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

MICROCOPY   RISOlUTtON   TIST   CHART 

(ANSI  and  ISO  TEST  CHART  No    7\ 


1.0    !i:l^  la 

I.I    1"^  I- 

^      ""        III  1.8 


1.25   ill.4 


1.6 


^     /IPPLIED  IIVMGE     Inc 


Dietetics  of  the  Olden 
Time 


BY 

WILLIAM  RENWICK  RIDDELL.  LL.D.. 

F.  R.  Hilt.  S..  Eic. 

TORONTO,  ONTARIO 


Reprinted  (rom  The  Dietetic  end  Hygienic  Cezelte 
(New  York)  for  Auguat,  1913. 


HAMilTON  PLJ8UG  LIBRARY 


DIETETICS  OF  THE  OLDEN  TIME 

B,  WILLIAM   RENWICK    RIDDELL 

The  Science  uf  Dietetics  is  nut  :i  thing  of  ycster- 
ilay  even  .imntit;  ''"e  Kn(;lish-s|>e;ikin(;. 

In  1671,  Ji)hn  Archer,  Chvmical  Phvsician-in- 
Onh'nary  to  the  Kinj;.  Charles  II.  published  at 
I.<inil<in  a  little  viihinie  entitled  "  Every  Man  his 
own  Doctor";  while  the  second  part  "shews  the 
fnll  knowledge  and  cure  "  of  many  iliseases  inclnd- 
iTiK  '■  Dropsie  (.'onsiitnptions  Scurvy  Obstrnctions 
and  Agnes."  the  lirst  sets  forth  "  the  Naltlre  and 
Kacnitics  of  all  Food  as  well  Meats  as  drinks, 
Whereby  every  .Man  aid  Woman  inay  nnilerstand 
what  is  good  and  hnrtfnl  to  ihcm." 

The  llecond  part  may  be  dismisse<l  with  a  few 
words.  Kvery  disease  is  to  be  cured  bv  the  use 
of  "onr  conlial  dyet  drink,  js  0.1  the  (|uart.  .Morbus 
I'ill  the  Mox  containing  30  at  5s.  the  Corroborating 
Pill  the  box  containing  40  at  5s,  the  Vomiting  Pill 
the  1k«  containing  20  at  ,is" ;  all  these  were  to  be 
had  "only  from  my  house  in  Winchester  Street 
near  fireshani  Colledgc  next  door  to  the  Fleece 
Tavern." 

It  will  be  seen  that  Archer's  simple  phaniia- 
™|»eia  was  more  scant  than  e.'en  that  of  Samuel 
Thomson  the  liotanical  physician  a  centiirv  and  a 
half  later:  the  Chvmical  Physician  of  the  17th 
ccnturv  had  only  four  remedies  while  the  liotanical 
Empiric  of  the  l.ilh  ha<l  at  least  six. 

The  more  interesting  part  of  the  Ijook,  however 
IS  the  first.     The  Author,  thinking  of  those  who 


IHeli-lics  of  Ihi-  I  >:il,-ii  liiii,- 


"iu'kIii'I  iIk  |irt'tii>iis  k'wcl  111  liiNillli  .  .  . 
livf  tit't,'iiKC'HtIy  and  Eat  ami  Drink  the\  i-ari-  not 
wliat  si(  it  bf  K<«><1  in  it  self  .  .  .  sn  it  please 
the  Paliat  lint  tliereliy  many  <lif,'  tlu-ir  (Iraves  with 
Iheir    teeth     .  .     liesiiles    their    nni-iimfiirtahle 

livinij  ill  sickness  and  disease  id*  IhhIv,"  writes  his 
"  shiirl  iimipeniiinni  .  .  .  wheriliy  every  man 
may  he  his  nwn  Ductnr  in  a  Dietct'  al  wav." 
"These  Reasons."  he  sa.. s,  "made  me  publish  this 
short  tract  for  'ly  Kood  thai  art  willint;  and  hast 
need  fif  Advice  least  too  late  ihon  considerest." 

lie  first  speaks  of  the  four  Temperaments.  "  San- 
RHine.  Cholerick.  PleK'niatick  and  Melancholia," 
and  how  one  may  determine  his  tempct„nient.  This 
is  of  very  great  im|)ortance  to  all  that  desire  health 
or  Wisdom.  "  for  Mores  scqiintur  hiininrcs."  and 
all  should  correct  the  excess  or  defect  of  heat,  cold, 
nioistnre  or  dryness  hy  pro[)er  food,  etc.,  "  for  it 
is  tnily  said  Coni/ariae  Cnntrariis  Curanliir.  all 
Reinedic^  are  perloniied  hy  the  contraries." 

We  may  pass  over  the  chapter  on  Air  and  come 
at  once  to  that  "Of  Meat  or  Food." 

"  Every  man  may  e:  sily  see  and  know  by  com- 
paring it  with  his  Constitution  what  is  Friendly 
and  health  fnl  to  him  and  wherein  it  is  inimical 
and  therefore  know  that  ,ill  .Minient  as  Meat,  and 
T>Tm\i  ...  is  of  vertne  to  encrease  the  snh- 
stance  of  onr  bodies  for  it  is  a  tnie  saying  in  a 
sense  t'al  \vc  our  selves  have  had  our  selves  upon 
our  trenchers." 

Dr.  Archer  hcRins  with  Beef  which  he  thinks  a 
"hard  of  concoction,  thick,  flesh  which  doth  not 
easily  pass  through  the  veins    .     .     .    the  frequent 


IlieU-lHx  of  the  Olilcii  Tim,: 


use  tlicri'of  cai'sclli  ilr>  ami  mclaiu-lmny  hitmoiirs, 
vvtlhn.il  i-MTi-isi-  and  ialwdir  uf  ImhIv.  cspci-iaily  if 
il  he  1)1.1  Ciiw  lioef  iir  '  )x  litTl  thai  willi  lalxmr 
anil  imich  wurkhiK  lialli  c  ■nIracU'c!  ilr.vni's>  ami 
liarilni-ss  iil  I'U-li  iir  is  tiaiik-ni-il  with  Salt  ami 
Snioak,"  lit  tliirifi)R'  iMnihidts  llial  il  is  "  most 
|>ri)litalile  for  laliorions  pciiplf,"  \'t*al  is  "  teltl- 
pcrali-  ami  n-n.lcr  lliimuli  siinii-lliins;  Wati-rish " 
ami  "  yic'lils  a  lliiclcer  hiyic  ihan  l.anili  or  Mnlliin." 

Of  MnllDn  tlif  lifst  is  "  Wi-atlicr,  the  yunnj^cr  is 
the  hfst  meat  .  .  .  ami  a^jrccs  huth  wirh  (hnsc  that 
arc  well  ami  tlmsf  that  arc  sick,  llnl  Kwf  Mmtun 
is  evil  .  .  .  the  Flesh  of  Rwes  is  evil  and  dull 
and  viscid  juice  is  hred  ihemif."  l.aiuh  "  when  it 
is  a  year  'yid.  it  is  a  very  jjiKid  nourishnient  .  .  . 
liefore  it  he  n  yeer  old  hath  moist  Hesh.  slimy  an<l 
viscid." 

"  Swines  flesh  nnnrisheth  very  plentifidly  and 
yields  firm  nutrimcin  and  therefore  is  most  profit- 
ahlc  for  tho?-^  that  are  in  their  tlonrishing  age." 
Snckinj;  I'ijjs  are  "  very  nourishini(  hiit  they  agree 
not  with  all  constitutions,  because  too  much 
humidity  ahoiuids  in  it.  the  fnmuus  va|iors  asccTids 
up  to  the  head,  in  many  causing  pain  atid  swim- 
ings."     Brawti  is  "  dil'licultly  concocted." 

The  feet  of  \ninials  are  cold  ami  dry ;  "  All 
hearts  are  of  a  ha--,  and  dry  nature  Init  if  well 
concocted  "  (i.e..  digested)  they  are  useful  "chiefly 
corroborating  the  heart  by  syinpathy."  The  I.iver 
is  h;  -1  to  be  concocted :  "  the  Spleen  ...  is 
the  receptacle  of  gross  Mclancholly  blood:  ,  . 
therefore  not  fit  I'or  food."  the  I.ungs  "nourish 
but  little  yet  easie  of  conciKtion  and  aflFord  gmjil 


Oirtclkx  nf  the  Ohlrn  Titnr. 


tiiiiirishnicnt."  tin-  Iiitvstim'-*  "  iiiit  mtv  i;<ki'1  l)iit 
thick  .\litnc?it."  "  (hi-  'ruiimti'  i'\tcl^  Ilie  iptluT 
pans."  the  Itrniil  "  yiclil-.  I'l'ttiitoiis  ati<l  thirk  jnii-c 
.  fanseth  loathiti^  t  xi-t-pt  it  Ir*  well  shari)- 
netl  with  \itieKar.'* 

N'eliisoii  allh(iii|;h  "in  hij;h  esteem  with  (icillry 
ami  IVasaiit  generates  Metaiirhnl'v  jtiiee."  "  Marcs 
flesh  is  aceminted  I>y  I'hysieians  for  Melaiu-lmlly 
meal  .  .  .  yet  they  are  liimiKhl  tn  generate  a 
({(hmI  cnlniir  ill  the  fai-e,  they  are  ln'st  iKiyleil." 

Tioates  flesh  is  imieh  a|i|>ri<veil.  so  iiki  with 
"  Conies  if  ih  y  he  nrit  too  old." 

()f"Fnwlcs  .  .  the  Tnrkie  is  of  the  iipjicr 
raiiek  .  .  .  havinR  ({ooil  juice  and  landahlc 
iiolirishnient.  it  is  most  tit  for  those  that  are  in 
heahh."  Hens  and  Capons  arc  "  easic  of  concoc- 
tion of  good  juice  .  .  .  the  hest  is  the  flesh 
of  cram'd  Capons,  the  next  is  that  of  fat  Cliickens. 
the  next  are  Pullets:  as  for  okl  Cocks  ami  Hens 
their  flesh  is  harder  ami  dryer  and  not  to  he  eaten 
hut  hy  lahorious  iieople." 

Cieese. — .\  well  coiicoctcfl  goose  "  afTords  plenty 
of  nourishment  but  the  delacacy  of  a  Ooosc  is  the 
I.iver  which  if  it  he  well  fatteil  especially  with 
sweet   food,  as  lioiled  Carrots,  etc." 

Tame  Ducks,  except  the  young  ones,  are  not 
aiiprovcd  of  hut  Wild  Duck  and  Mallanl  "  yeilds 
good  nourishment  and  ilo  not  easily  pulrilie  in  the 
Stoiiiack."  Pheasants  arc  rccommendcil  to  all  in 
health  as  are  Partriilges  and  Quail,  but  the  sick 
must  not  eat  of  Quails.  "  hecause  they  are  apt  to 
generate  Feavers."  Pigeons  are  "  most  dangerous 
in  a  Putrid  Feaver."     Plovers.  Cocks   (i.e..  Wood 


l>ii'tetii\f  of  the  OMrn  Time. 


I'm'ks  I.  Suites  (old  fiirin  of  "  Sni[K's  ').  Thninhc!*. 
(tlack  tjjrds  atul  l^^irk*-  re  all  ailinirahlc.  cHpnially 
the  l.ark  which  "hath  a  |H:cultar  i|tialil>  rml  unly 
to  prt'scrvc  nnc  from  the  L'hultick  but  also  t^i  cure 
it." 

"  Fishc  scarce  atfunl  so  k*^m1  jiiycf  as  Corn 
and  Km;  and  other  \  ejiitables.  they  are  cold, 
easily  puiririe  and  if  they  arc  cornipted  they 
acijuire  a  quality  nv>st  dat]|ferously  atlverse  to  our 
natures." 

Salmon  is  "  the  Iwst  of  I'ish  hut  uhen  they  are 
)iickle<l  with  salt  and  han  ed  with  siuuak  they  are 
much  worse  and  ditVu  y  concocted."  Trouts 
come  next  to  Salmon.  .-voles  plaice  and  Tnrlwt  " 
are  highly  comi-iendetl  except  when  they  are 
"(Iryed  in  the  Snioak."  Gudgeons  and  Smelts 
may  safely  Iw  given  to  those  that  an  'ck:  to 
these,   other   little    fishes   are   alike   as  e   and 

Minners.  etc." 

A  Carj).  especially  "  if  it  I>e  fat  .  .  .  stewed 
in  Wine  as  the  manner  is,  makes  a  Princely  dish 
.  .  .  hut  (alas)  is  not  tit  for  sick  people."  Pike 
on  the  contrary  "may  also  be  given  to  those  that 
are  sick.  Perch  "  halh  tender  flesh  ...  the 
Juyce  is  not  evil  yet  it  affords  weaker  Aliment." 
Bream  is  to  be  eaten  but  "  not  to  he  mixed  with 
divers  kinds  of  meats";  Tench  is  approveil  while 
"  a  liarbel  whose  Eggs  perchance  gave  an  occasion 
for  some  to  supintse  he  hears  very  bad,  causes  not 
only  pain  hut  also  vomiting  .  .  .  and  stirs  up 
Choller."  Naturally  "  from  the  use  thereof  we 
ought  to  abstain."  The  use  of  Eells  is  not  safe 
for  sick  people:    Lampreys  are  not  numbered  by 

7 


Dietetics  of  the  Olden  Tin 


Physitians  anioii^'  Fishes  of  the  best  sort  but  Her- 
rings are.  except  wiien  "pickled  with  sah  or  hanl- 
ne(i  with  Snioak."  Oxilisb  and  SttK-ktish  are  not 
to  be  eaten  "  wilbout  danger  to  any  save  those  that 
have  healthy  strong  stoniacks  and  lalior  nnich." 
Sturgeon  give  tinn  nutriment  and  are  "  ver\'  last- 
ing to  work  upon.'*  Lobsters  and  Crabs  '*  will  not 
well  <ligest  hut  in  a  strong  stoniack,"  while  Oysters 
and  Scollops  "have  a  soft  juice  .  .  .  ind  l)eing 
hard  of  concoction  nourish  but  little."' 

Passing  now  to  Meats  from  living  creatures. 
Milk  comes  in  for  a  good  word.  Sound  "  Anitnals 
only  generate  good  milk  but  such  diseased  animal.s 
generate  vitious  an<l  corrupt.  The  best  milk  .  .  . 
is  of  a  gtMKl  smel  and  sweet  to  the  taste  .  .  . 
neither  too  thick  nor  too  t!  ;i.  neither  Serous  nor 
Caseous."  "Although  in  Consuni])tions  sometimes 
is  ];rescribed  Woman's  ^fi'ik.  Asses  Milk  or  (loats 
Milk,  yet  for  Food,  none  is  so  good  as  Cows  milk, 
and  of  that  sort  the  Red  Cow  is  best  and  in  a 
Consumption  I  should  prefer  it  before  the  termer 
being  taken  warm  while  the  spirit  of  the  animal  is 
in  it."  Cheese  does  not  receive  nnich  commenda- 
tion; still  "it  is  very  useful  to  close  the  month  of 
the  stomack  after  a  full  meal,  being  eaten  to  the 
(|uanttty  of  a  dram  or  two  "  but  "  it  is  always  to 
be  eaten  sparingly  and  after  other  meats."  Whey 
"  is  more  fit  for  Medicine  than  Food." 

Egg'  afforil  much  nourishment.  "  The  newest 
eggs  are  the  best  and  nourish  most  and  soonest 
.  .  .  but  the  stalest  are  the  worst."  "  As  for 
the  cooking  of  them  they  are  best  when  the  yolk 
is  soft  and  the  Rear  hardned  to  a  white  colour  and 

8 


Dietetics  of  the  Olilcn  Time. 


so  supt  up,  being  Ijoyled  in  water,  they  may  easily 
be  given  to  a  weak  Stomacls :  they  arc  stronger  in 
last,  lx)yleil  in  the  shell  than  potched,  es|)ecially  if 
Roasted  but  the  worst  way  of  ilressing  them  is  to 
fry  them  in  a  |)an."  Honey  "is  not  good  for  the 
Liver  but  very  good  for  the  Lungs  " ;  and  Sugar  is 
valuable  for  its  "  cleansing  i|uality  in  the  body  of 
man." 

Passing  into  the  X'egetable  Kingdom,  the  Doctor 
discusses  Wheat  approved  for  all.  Barley  especially 
for  the  sick.  Rye  not  so  good  as  Wheai.  "  causing 
in  some,  griping  pains,"  Rice  "especially  boyleil 
with  Milk,"  Oats  "  very  useful  in  pottages  and 
broaths  which  may  be  given  to  sick  or  well ", 
Beans  which  "make  the  senses  dull,'  I'ease  which 
"  yield  better  nourishment  than  beans  .  ,  .  and 
are  very  pleasing  to  Stomachs  surfeited  with  over- 
fulness  of  stronger  Food."  Parsnips  "  are  hot  and 
dry  .  .  .  they  are  more  useful  in  Physick  then 
Food."  Turnips  "  are  safely  eaten  with  meat  or 
alone  buttered,  being  baked  their  Juyce  makes  a 
good  Surnip  for  a  Consumption."  Carrots  are 
very  wholesome.  Radish  commonly  used  for 
"  Sawce  "  while  Mustard  "  is  Uiuch  for  heat,  last 
and  efficacy  like  the  Root  of  Wild  Horse  railish. 
Leeks  and  C.arlick  "  have  a  |X)wer  of  attenuating 
thick  Phlegm  and  viscid  humours,  taking  away  cold 
and  this  is  a  good  Remedy  .  .  .  against  the 
Plague  and  venemous  Air,"  while  Onions  '  are  all 
hurtful  to  the  Head,  Eyes,  Teeth  and  Gums  and 
cause  disturbive  sleep  and  turbulent  dreams."  Cab- 
bage does  not  recommend  itself  to  the  author,  it 
"affords     little     nourishment    .     .    .     fulliginous 


Dietetics  of  the  Olden  Time. 


vapours  fly  into  the  head  and  produce  turbalent 
sleep  and  weakens  the  sight,  and  are  very  danger- 
ous for  those  that  are  incident  to  a  Vertigo  or 
swimming  in  the  head."  Still  '*  being  boyled  in 
the  breath  with  Fat  Meat,  it  is  somewhat  corrected, 
yet  the  stinking  coction  or  broath  shews  its  danger 
and  that  its  only  fitting  for  laborious  people." 
Artechoaks  are  not  much  better.  Lattice  is  "  the 
best  of  Sallads  .  .  .  corrects  Choller  and  good 
for  hot  Stomachs,  it  provokes  sleep."  Spinage  is 
"  not  profitable."  Beets,  Orach  and  Mallows 
"  nourish  little  and  yields  a  watry  Juyce  and 
unpleasing  of  tast.  except  the  sawce  mends  them." 
Asparagus  and  young  branches  of  Hops  "  are 
grateful  to  the  tast  and  cause  Appetite  .  ,  .  " ; 
Parsley  aflfords  but  little  nourishment  while  Purs- 
lain  is  an  "  excellent  sallad  with  Oyl."  Mints  are 
pleasing  in  smell  and  "  very  strengthning  to  the 
Stomach,  they  stay  Vomiting  and  are  a  most  excel- 
lent Sallad  minced  in  Vinegar  and  Sugar  for  any 
fresh  meat."  "  Melones  are  pleasant  in  tast  and 
send  forth  an  Aromatick  Smell  but  are  of  a  cold 
watry  moist  substance.  .  .  but  are  easily  cor- 
rupted and  being  cornipted  become  as  it  were  of 
a  poysonous  nature  and  stir  up  Choller  or  generate 
Feavers  whereby  many  great  men  are  killed," 
therefore  "  after  the  eating  of  them  some  good 
Food  ought  to  be  eaten  and  good  Wine  to  be  drank 
that  their  corrupting  may  be  hindred."  Cucumbers 
are  much  the  same  but  not  so  dangerous.  Straw- 
berries "are  profitable  to  those  that  troubled 
with  Choller  in  the  Stomach,  they  cool  the  Liver 
.    .    .    but  are  easie  cornipted  in  the  Stomach, 


Dietetics  of  Ihr  Olden  Time. 


therefore  on^ht  to  he  eaten  hefore  meat."  A])ples 
"  are  henetk-ial  to  those  which  are  troiihled  with 
Melaticholly."  Pears  and  (Jiiinces  have  no  good 
(Itiahties.  nor  Peaches  unless  these  he  "  hoyled  in 
Wine  ":  htit  Apricocks  are  pleasing  to  the  Stomach 
and  not  easily  corrupted.  Medlers  shuuld  not  he 
eaten  till  they  are  rotten.  Cherries  f|uench  thirst 
and  raise  an  Appelite  and  black  cherries  are  "most 
wholesome  and  indeed  Medicinal  ajjainst  t'onvnl- 
sions."  Plumbs  are  "chiefly  profitable  to  Cholorick 
Stomachs";  "the  white  or  yellowish  are  'he  worst, 
but  the  best  are  of  a  black  or  blew  cohmr  like 
Damsons  or  Damask  Prunes."  "  Mulbiirics  are 
to  be  eaten  when  the  stomach  is  empty  onlv."  Figs 
have  "  a  penetrating  and  cleansing  faculty."  Orapes 
arc  apt  to  "stir  up  Chollick  I'its  :uid  cause  the 
spleen  to  swell  and  fill  the  Stomach  and  IJver  with 
crude  humours."  Of  \uts.  Almonds  arc  the  best 
but  they  arc  "not  good  to  be  given  in  Feavers"; 
Filberds  and  Ilasle-Xuts  come  next  in  "  vertue  " ; 
Walnuts  when  old  are  apt  to  cause  a  cough  and 
cause  a  pain  in  the  head  but  "the  use  of  them  is 
commended  after  eating  of  Fish  because  their  heat- 
ing and  dryness  prevent  t!ie  corruption  of  Fish." 
Chestnuts  are  believed  by  "  Gallen  that  learned 
Physitian,"  to  "  have  no  ill  juyce."  but  they  should 
not  be  "eaten  in  too  great  plenty."  Olives  are 
temperate  while  "  the  oyle  drawn  from  them  that 
are  rii)C  .  .  .  ctjrrect  the  gravity  of  other  .\Ii- 
tnents,  amen<ls  the  Cnulity  of  Herbs,  nav  resists 
Poyson  .  .  .  and  mitigates  pain  internally  and 
externally." 

Of  Mushrooms  or  Toad  Stools,  the  author  wisely 
II 


Diclelks  of  Ihc  Olden  Time. 

says    "  oftentimes    they    are    poysonous    therefore 
better  let  alone  than  eaten." 

Then  comes  a  chapter  on  Drink.   I  tf  Water,  that 
is  preferred  which  spreads  towards  the  East  and 
mns  Eastward,  of  Rain   Water  that   which   falls 
in  Summer  time  with  Thunder;  Well  Water,  Lake 
anil  Marrish  Waters  are  all  condemned,  as  is  the 
water  from  Snow  or  Ice.    Of  Wines,  sweet  wines 
of  fragrant  smell,  pale  or  white  rather  than  reil 
or  deep  colored,  old  rather  than  new,  should  be 
drunk.     Of  Beer  and  Ale  "  all  new  drink  is  more 
unwholesome."     Honey  Drinks  are    'good  for  the 
Phlegmatick  and  bad   for  the  Chollerick,"   while 
Coffee  "  will  make  him  that  drinks  it  vigilant  for 
it  doth  much  hinder  sleep    ...     is  bad  to  be 
drank  near  bed  time     .     .     .     1  icing  in  itself  poten- 
tially cold  it  is  innocent,  working  no  wonders  but 
one,  viz..  It  hath  mn!.,  many  poor  people  by  selling 
it.   become   very   rich."     Tobacco   is   good    for  a 
vulnerary.      "  Smoaked "    it    is   good    for    Phleg- 
maticks.   for  Rhumes,   Catarrhs,   Distillations  and 
Hydropick  persons,  bad  for  the  Chollerick  consti- 
tutioned.      If    those    chollerick    constitutioned    do 
"  smoak  "  it  is  best  for  them  to  drink  before  and 
after  "  least  their  natural  heat  with  the  heat  of  the 
Tobacco  may  be  inflamed  and  cau.se  a  burning  at 
the  Heart  and  in  the  Stomach." 

This  part  of  the  book  terminates  with  a  chapter 
of  most  excellent  advice  on  exercise  of  body  and 
mind,  rest  and  "  sleep  and  watching." 

Until  Alexis  St.  Martin  shot  a  hole  in  his 
stomach,  most  of  the  so-called  knowledge  of  diges- 
tion was  pure  guess-work,  and  Dr.  Archer  per- 

12 


Dietetics  of  the  Olden  Time. 

haps  makes  as  good  a  guess  as  any  other.  With 
many  of  his  conchisions,  gourmets  ant!  physicians 
will  agree,  with  some,  one  class  and  not  the  other 
while  occasionally  he  makes  an  assertion  altogether 
fantastic  and  discredited. 

Taken  as  a  whole,  his  dietetics  cannot  bo  said  to 
have  been  behind  his  age  or  a  discredit  even  to  a 
Kmgs  "Chymical  Physitian." 


